Rider Profiles: Sarah Whelan
Sarah Whelan
Sarah has only been mountain bike racing since 2006 but her competitive spirit led to her winning the Veteran Ladies Spring Series in 2008. Joolze Dymond learns what drives the Purple Bike Shed rider.
Age: We never ask a girl her age but if you want to tell us... Well, I am nearer to 40 than I am to 50.
Riding for: Purple Bike Shed and BOB (Berks on Bikes)
What bike do you ride? A sparkly Specialized Stumpjumper Expert.
Sarah and her family are keen members of Berks On Bikes MBC,
their Intro Rides are ideal for newcomers to the area.
[© joolzedymond.com]
When did you start cycling? I used to mess about on bikes as a kid & thrash around the woods near to where I lived, but only started mountain biking in 2005.
What got you started in Mountain Biking? I always fancied doing some off road biking but never had time as I used to play league hockey every Saturday. When I retired from hockey in 2004 I needed something to fill the gap. I went on a BOB Intro Ride in January 2005 on a really old bike that had no suspension (front or back) & dodgy V-brakes. I absolutely loved it and have not looked back.
Can you remember your first bike? My first bike I used to scramble round the woods on when I was a kid was a girls prim and proper purple Raleigh until I put on some fantastic "cowhorn" handlebars. They were the best.
What was your first race? I was in a BOB mixed team at Mountain Mayhem 24hr race 5 months after I started riding. It was truly a baptism by fire!!!
How long have you been riding Gorricks? I started competing in the Spring Series in 2006.
What's your favourite Gorrick venue? It has to be Tunnel Hill for me. The single track is fab and I love the smooth flowing swoopy bits, that's a technical term ;-) through the trees.
Best Gorrick moment? The first time I came second in a race as I got one of those little trophies... oh and winning the Veteran Ladies Spring Series in 2008.
Have you got any major MTB ambitions? I would like to do a 12hr solo race & depending how that goes possibly attempt a 24hr solo.
Best piece of advice you've been given? You can't make a donkey into a thoroughbred but you can make a fast donkey. Oh and don't eat yellow snow.
What advice would you give to any newcomer? You are never too old to try something new and "a journey of a thousand miles starts with one small turn of a pedal".
Do you have a favourite training ride? I haven't really got "training rides", I just try and get out when I can in between taxiing my children and running my Personal Training business.
And anything else you think you'd like to add... You don't have to be mad to be a mountain biker...but it does help :-)
Sarah has ambitions of tackling a 12hr solo race
and depending how that goes possibly attempt a 24hr solo
[© joolzedymond.com]
01 Dec 24
26 Jan 25
